Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
Minister, in your answer, you referred to PCSPs and the work that they do on the ground. Is there an opportunity for your Department, through the Policing Board, to provide more funding for PCSPs to enable them to do more of that work?
There have been claims and counterclaims about the direction of travel, whether north or south, in cross-border exploitation of the common travel area. I have discussed the issue not only from an immigration perspective but from the wider perspective of organised crime groups who try to exploit any opportunity that…
Given the genuine concerns of the wider public in Northern Ireland, what measures is the Minister putting in place to specifically address the illegal networks that have been set up to support and encourage the flow of undocumented immigrants coming across the border from the Irish Republic?
Mr Speaker, with permission, I will answer questions 3 and 5 together, which may result in the answer being slightly longer than usual. At the outset, I remind Members that immigration is not a devolved matter and therefore does not fall within my responsibilities as Minister of Justice. However, I assure Members that…
As I said, none of us, including the CBA, wishes to be in that position again. There are a number of things that we can do. I spoke earlier about the more regular and routine review of legal aid fees and delivery of the enabling access to justice delivery programme. If we can work together on those issues to ensure…
As I said, the listing of cases is a matter solely for the judiciary. It is something that I cannot control, but I have sought updates from the LCJ, who has now issued a direction on how she intends to take the matter forward. I will keep myself abreast of the impact that that has on the backlogs that have been…
I welcome the update from the Minister on addressing the backlog. Minister, will you commit to working with the LCJ to address the backlog and to keeping the House updated on progress?
In answer to the first question, we invested additional money in Victim Support NI and other support services so that people who needed particular support during the suspension of court processes could benefit from that. Hopefully, those services will also be able to support people through this period. I encourage…
I thank the Minister for her answer. Indeed, I thank her for the assistance that she, as Minister of Justice, gave my constituents Kathryn and Aaron McCollum following the tragic death of their much-loved husband and father. Her assistance was deeply appreciated. Many victims and witnesses have clearly had to face…
There is no doubt that the CBA withdrawal has created a significant backlog. We were already working hard to address the delays, and those have now been supplemented. Listing is a judicial function, and work on recovery is being led by the Lady Chief Justice (LCJ) for that reason. There will be a phased approach to…
I thank the Minister for her answer. The position has turned out to be more positive than it was when I submitted the question. I know that this will not necessarily be your direct responsibility, Minister, but will any special measures be adopted to deal with the backlog of cases so that we can put victims right at…
With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will address questions 2 and 4 together. For the sake of victims and witnesses, I am pleased that the unnecessary and unwarranted service withdrawal by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has finally come to an end. The CBA is finally following the example of its solicitor colleagues…
Recruitment plays a key role in the Prison Service's ability to deliver a consistent and productive regime for those who are committed to our care. It is encouraging that so many people applied to become prison officers in response to the recent campaign. Between January and March this year, 67 newly recruited prison…
If not, I have no details with which to furnish the House. However, I take the point that the Member is making. Our work in the Prison Service and across the estate to reduce the flow of drugs into prisons from outside has been quite successful. The introduction of X-ray body scanners means that we are much more able…
The Minister is aware and is, in fact, on record as having suggested that organised drug crime is happening in prisons. I have previously raised that matter in the Assembly. On the question of staffing levels, is the Minister aware of any incidents where prison officers have become intoxicated by inhaling illegal…
Since the publication of the particular report on a special inspection of care and supervision units, which I commissioned, huge progress has been made on the recording of contact between prison officers and prisoners in the care and supervision units and on access to productive activity. The care and supervision…
What progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Criminal Justice Inspection (CJINI) report that found unacceptable levels of inappropriate use of care and supervision units in prisons?
I thank the Member for his question. As a former prison officer, he will be aware of the delicate balance that has to be struck around those issues. It is, of course, always our intent that every prisoner, irrespective of who they are, will be held in custody that is dignified and safe, and that will be the same in…
I thank the Minister for her answer. Whilst my question was very much about the increasing prison estate, she will also understand that high-profile prisoners taking up residence in our facilities has a ripple effect in those establishments. In light of the recent high-profile imprisonment, can the Minister give us an…
The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) assesses that current staffing levels are sufficient to maintain the safe and secure operation of houses, units and landings across the estate. However, sustained increases in the prison population have placed pressures on staffing, requiring difficult decisions at times on…
I want to speak briefly on the Bill. The Bill should always have been about victims and survivors. Sometimes, it was, and the voices of victims and survivors came through and were heard, but, quite often, it was not, especially when it came to certain amendments not being heard, selected or voted for. I commend all…
I begin my remarks by putting on record, once again, my thanks to the victims and survivors who have campaigned for many years to bring us to this point today, where the Bill will pass its Final Stage. To those who started the process and are no longer with us; to those who came to the Committee and gave their very…
I begin by offering the apologies of my colleague Carál Ní Chuilín, who cannot be here today owing to ill health. Carál has been very much invested in the work on the legislation. The Bill is very important to her, given the work that she does in the Assembly and the people with whom she has personally worked and…